Summary

Chapter 6: First Wave

The First National Bank of Dalhart closed its doors on June 27, 1931. People banged on the door but the bank was broke, insolvent. That same day the temperature rose to a record-breaking 112 degrees. Doc Dawson lost the money he had in the bank. He had no pension and Social Security didn’t exist then. He was in ill health suffering from Bright’s disease, tuberculosis and asthma. Yet, he had to keep working. He ran from one operation to another. After suffering a heart attack, he resolved to make his land work for him. But with the temperature at 112 degrees, his fields were dry and his chances bleak.

A crowd demanded that the sheriff open the bank. The people wanted their money. The sheriff tried to calm the people down telling them it was a federal matter. Although he tried to...